Could this Get any More Confusing ? Wiring Alarm Buzzer to Plotter...

[OrangeCrush]

Something approaching a consensus! Wire it up directly, I will! Thanks, everybody. I'll post back with the results.

[mileskb]

I don't usually like to awaken old threads like this, but in this case I'm having the EXACT same issue and what seems to have been the "concensus" DOES NOT WORK.

If I hook the buzzer plus to +12 and the buzzer - to the Yellow, it starts buzzing.

I verified... when the GPS goes into an Alarm state, the Yellow pulses 1V. I verified this not only with a meter but if I hook a low voltage buzzer (not very loud) between the yellow and ground.... it works properly... just quiet.

What I apparently need is a 1 Volt relay that can handle 12 volts across the switch.

I just got off the phone with Garmin and they are sending me an actual schematic to wire the relay. They say a standard 12V relay should work...

Much like the original poster, I have been all over the web on this. It doesn't help that I actually have an electronics background... went to school for it and everything. It isn't rocket science. Apply voltage across coil.... causes switch to trip...

Sheesh.... It should not be this tough.

[Pblais]

Sheesh.... It should not be this tough.

It's not tough - just technical. Personally, dragging sucks. By the time you really know it, it's too late. I do know people that have dragged a half mile before they knew it and didn't hit anything in a river. Being lucky still counts!

[OrangeCrush]

I never posted back with my results....

Wiring it up directly with no relay worked fine, and it's worked ever since. It's loud as all hell inside and outside the boat, always sends chills up my spine. Not sure I can offer much more guidance than that... Good luck!

Jack

[mileskb]

I am begining to think the gps alarm circuit is faulty. I used the diagram the just sent, which I will try to upload later, but the even labeled exactly the terminals on the relay to use 30. 85, 86 and 87 with what goes where, and it does not work.

[mileskb]

Thanks Orange crush. If you get a chance could you post what buzzer you used? Make Model? I have three. All 12V.. All work fine when hooked to batter... and in fact work as soon as they are hooked up as you suggested. As in as soon as power is turned on, it goes off.

Here is the circuit they sent me. It should work, it doesn't.

[Psmart2000]

Did as was suggested here and the alarm works just fine. I fitted an APT LED and alarm unit which draws less than 20mAmp also hooked up a rocket launcher type switch on the positive wire to disable the alarm. Now everyone aboard can here it.

[BozSail]

What type of relay did you use? There are "normally OPEN" relays and "normally CLOSED" relays. I'm GUESSING that the correct one for this Garmin alarm would be a "normally OPEN" relay, but I'm not sure. You should check with Garmin to be sure. Good luck.

[Psmart2000]

Hi Boz,

As the buzzer/LED I am using
is less than the 100mAmp no relay us required.